After many weeks of well attended net practice, the first game of the season was upon us on a chill breezy and cloudy afternoon in Essex, In spite of all the preparation Graces had to manage with 10 players and on winning the toss, invited the home side to bat.

Nadeem in his usual accurate spell, bowled his first four overs without conceding a run and had opener Henman caught by keeper Hardisty for three. At the other end. newcomer Sudanshu produced a lively spell but with little luck. Surprise first change bowler was Mamun who bowled with accuracy and great change of pace and flight to take two for nineteen with two maidens in his eight over spell.

With the home side struggling, Baker was joined by Stokes and they began to take the initiative away from Graces with a fine stand aided it must be said by some lax ground fielding and missed catches. It was Mendes who finally broke the stand getting Stokes for a well hit 77

At the end of their 40 overs Baker was not out on 48 and Jones on 14. Of their total of 176 for 4 third highest scorer was extras with 24, which was to prove crucial when Graces came to bat.

Graces innings followed a very similar pattern to that of their hosts with Simon being dismissed in the 6th over for 3 with the score on 8 followed by Niroshan for 2 with the score on 20 in the 9th. over. Anosh joined Manish, who was batting well until he miss-timed a pull to leg and was caught for 18. Anosh and Mendes added 39 for the 4th wicket before a mix up saw Anosh unable to regain his ground to be run out for a hard hit 29. Joined by Nadeem the scoring rate increased and the pair added 88 in the next 12 overs before Mendes was bowled for 37. A testament to the slow outfield was the fact that his innings contained not one boundary. Unfortunately Nadeem perished in the following over for a fine 63 as did Jonathan without troubling the scorers. The stage was now set for a nail biting finish. Thirteen required with three overs and two wickets to fall, skipper Dominic and Mamun looked comfortable as they added twelve precious runs when Mamun struck the bowler firmly back over his head with two balls to go only to be caught for 3. Dominic took his score to 10 off 12 balls with a single and with the scores tied Sudanshu swung at the final ball missed and was stumped, The game ending in a tie.Oh those extras and miss-fields.